📍 Greenville, South Carolina
⚾ Home of the Greenville Drive
Minor league baseball has been a quintessential part of summer in the Upstate since the 1960s, with both Greenville and Spartanburg hosting a number of teams throughout their history. Today, it’s the Greenville Drive who entertain fans in the former, playing out of the highly-praised Fluor Field at the West End. This brick-clad ballpark anchors a larger apartment and retail district which pays homage to local legend Shoeless Joe Jackson and, all together, makes this one of the most well-rounded South Atlantic League facilities.
Affiliated ball first came to Greenville in 1984, when the Atlanta Braves Double-A affiliate arrived in town. Playing at old Municipal Stadium, the G-Braves departed for Mississippi just over two decades later, but it wasn’t long until the game returned to the city. In 2005, the Capital City Bombers moved up the road from Columbia, taking up residence a year later at the newly built Fluor Field and rebranding as the Drive, a nod to the region’s automotive heritage as the home base for Michelin and BMW’s US Manufacturing.
The Drive have been affiliated with the Boston Red Sox since before their arrival in Greenville, and the construction of Fluor Field was sure to reflect this long-time partnership. The 6,700 seat ballpark has many Fenway-esque elements, including a 30-foot “Green Monster” in left field that’s just 7 feet shorter than Boston’s. The field itself was also designed to be to nearly the exact same dimensions as Fenway Park, and the Red Sox tradition of playing Sweet Caroline immediately after the 7th-inning stretch is replicated by the Drive as well.
Fluor Field plays host to many college baseball games throughout the spring season, including the Reedy River Rivalry between the South Carolina Gamecocks and nearby Clemson Tigers. The stadium has been the site of the SoCon Tournament on several occasions too.
Adjacent to Fluor Field is the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum, featuring a wealth of artifacts from the Greenville legend’s life both in and out of the spotlight. Located inside Jackson’s old home – which underwent two moves to bring it to its present location across the street from the ballpark – this educational museum was expanded in 2020, coinciding with the development of an entertainment district surrounding the house. Called “District 356”, after Shoeless Joe’s lifetime batting average, the area is reminiscent of Boston’s Jersey Street and features mixed-use development that mostly consists of high-end apartments. On the other side of the ballpark, a statue of Shoeless Joe stands tall and serves as a focal point for the left field pedestrian plaza.
One of the most well-thought out minor league ballparks, both inside the gates and out, Fluor Field is an aesthetically pleasing facility with character and charm. Like the historic ballpark it’s modeled after, South Carolina’s mini Fenway will surely stand the test of time and endure as one of MiLB’s most unique.
Info Invasion
Parking: Many free and paid options throughout downtown, with most connected by a free gameday trolley
Nearby Venue(s): Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Fifth Third Park
In the Area: Tour the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum across the street, open Saturdays from 10a-2p
Stadium51 